Improvement in tree-protectors



JOSIAH FOSTER, OF SANDWICH, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN TREEGPROTECTORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 19,35%', dated February16, 1858.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOsIAH FOSTER, ofSandwich, in the county of Barnstable and State of Massachusetts, haveinvented an Improved Tree-Protector; and I do hereby declare that thesame is fully described and represented in the followingspeciticationand the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure l denotes aside elevation of my invention or protector as applied to the trunk of atree. Fig. 2 is a vertical section otA the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontalsection of the trough, to be hereinafter described. In these drawings, Adenotes the trunk ora short part of the trunk of a tree. Extendingaround such trunk is a trough, B, made ot' sheet metal or other suitablematerial, it being so disposed as not to touch the tree, but to have aclear space, O, between it and the trunk of the tree and entirely aroundthe said trunk. A cover, D, ot cotton, cloth, or other suitable elasticorelasticand flexible material, encompasses the trunk A, and is securedthereto by tacks driven through the cover near to its upper edge., thecover at such edge being made to t so closely to the tree as lto preventany insect or canker worm from passing through thejoint. The lower edgeof thecover is fastened to the outer edge of the trough,the whole beingarranged as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. For convenience of emptying thetrough ot' its contents,such trough may be constructed in two or moresections orseparate troughs, a a, connected together by hinges or heldtogether by a curved clasp, b, (see Fig. 4,\vhich is a vertical sectionof the two abutting ends of two troughs fastened by the clasps 1),)applied to their abutting ends, the saine being to enable the troughs tobe tipped sufticientl y when it may be desirable to empty them of liquidand worms which mayhavc been caught in them.

From the above it will be seen that theelastic and flexible cover servesnot only as a roof to the trough and a means ot' suspending it from thetree, but by its elastic property it will offer no impediment to theenlargement or growth of the trunk in diameter. Its iexibility allowsthe sections ot' the trough to be tipped up or turned over to thegreatest eX- tent which may be desirable in order to empty 'them asdescribed;

.When a protector of the above-described kind 1s applied to the trunk ofa tree it operates as a sure preventive to the passage of worms by itand up the tree, for in ascending the trunk they must pass through thespace C and toward the joint of the cover and tree, such joint servingas a barrier to their further upwardprogress. Havingarrivedatthejomt,theinsects or worms, whichever they may be,must either retrace their pathor descend the inner surface of the cloth cover. If the trough containsoil or a liquid, such will prevent an 1nsector worm from passing acrossthe trough, or will entrap him. By means ot' the cover the trough willbe protected from rain, snow, or dust.

One great and very important feature of my invention, or troughtree-protector, consists in the employment ofan eiastic or expansiblecover for suspending the trough from the tree, the object of which is topermit the tree. to grow in diameter without injuriousconstrlction ofits bark. Another important feature of such invention is to be found inthe extensionsof the trongh'and its cover around the tree in such mannerthat there may be a. clear space between the tree and the cover andtrough, a section of such space being shown in Fig. 2.

I do not claim surrounding the trunk of a tree by a trough to contain aliquid, and so that such liquid may .present an impediment or barrier tothe passage ot' insects or worms across the trough but NVhat I do claimisl. Arranging the trough around the tree so that there may he a clearspace for the passage of insects or worms between it and the tree, andsuspending the said trough from the body ofthe tree by means of anelasticortlexible elastic cover of cloth or other suitable materials,extending around and affixed at its upper edge or part to the trunk ofthe tree and at its lower edge to the trough, the whole beingsubstantially in manner and so as to operate as and for the purposeabove specitied.

2. In connection with a 'lieXible cover applied to the trunk ot' thetree as described, making the circumventing trough in two or moresections or separate troughs, so joined or applied together at theirabutting ends as to be capable of being tipped so as to enable theircontents to be discharged in manner as set forth.

1n testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature.

Witnesses: JOSIAH FOSTER.

S. AUGUSTUS SEARS, CHARLES B. HALL.

